Verbena plant named ‘KLEVP15616’

ABSTRACT

A new  Verbena  plant particularly distinguished by orange-red flowers with darker eyes, an upright plant habit, and good tolerance to powdery mildew, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Verbena sp.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEVP15616’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Verbena, botanically known as Verbena sp., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEVP15616’. ‘KLEVP15616’ originated from a cross-pollination conducted in September 2011 in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia between the proprietary female Verbena variety ‘VC1166’ (unpatented), and the proprietary male Verbena variety ‘VC11107’ (unpatented).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown for evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEVP15616’ was selected from the group of plants in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in August 2012.

In October 2012, ‘KLEVP15616’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative stem cuttings in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. ‘KLEVP15616’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative stem cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia.

-   -   1. Orange-red flowers with darker red eyes;     -   2. An upright plant habit; and     -   3. Good tolerance to powdery mildew.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photograph is of a thirteen-week-old plant grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2014. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEVP15616’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. Data was collected on three-month-old plants grown in a greenhouse in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in June 2015 in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) 2007.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Verbenaceae.         -   Botanical.—Verbena sp.         -   Common.—Verbena.         -   Designation.—‘KLEVP15616’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary female verbena variety             ‘VC1166’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—The proprietary male verbena variety ‘VC11107’             (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Height (from top of soil).—30.0 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—26.0 cm.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Approximately 8             weeks.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—3 weeks.         -   Root description.—RHS 155B (White); fine and fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Number of branches per plant.—More than 25.         -   Length.—20.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—Approximately 1.8 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 130D.         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.         -   Texture and appearance.—Pubescent, round. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Immature and mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 141A.             Lower surface: RHS 141C.         -   Length.—2.3 cm.         -   Width.—1.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery. Lower surface: Rugose.         -   Venation type.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 141D.         -   Petioles.—Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS 141D.             Texture: Leathery. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Shape.—Tall, cylindrical.         -   Length.—0.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Color (at tight bud).—RHS 49A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—2 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Inflorescence type.—Umbel.         -   Length of inflorescence.—5.8 cm.         -   Diameter of inflorescence.—5.9 cm.         -   Number of florets per inflorescence.—More than 20.         -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 141A. Length: 1.0 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. -   Florets:     -   -   Length.—2.1 cm.         -   Diameter.—2.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Glossy.         -   Form.—Single.         -   Length.—2.1 cm.         -   Diameter.—2.5 cm.         -   Corolla tube length.—1.2 cm.         -   Corolla tube color (outer surface).—RHS 56C.         -   Petals.—Length of lobe: 1.9 cm. Diameter of lobe: 2.0 cm.             Lobe shape: Round. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin:             Entire. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Glossy,             satiny. Color: Immature: Upper surface: RHS 58B with RHS 53C             eyes. Lower surface: RHS 52B. Mature: Upper surface: RHS 55A             with RHS 52A eyes. Lower surface: RHS 48C.         -   Pedicels.—Not visible. -   Sepals:     -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—0.9 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 141C.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Hairy, dull. -   Reproductive organs:

Stamens.—Present. Quantity: 4. Color: RHS 139D. Filament length: 0.6 cm. Filament diameter: 0.1 cm. Anther: Shape: Elliptic. Color: RHS 141D. Length: 0.8 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Pollen amount: Sparse.

-   -   -   Pistils.—Number: 1. Length: 1.0 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm.             Stigma: Color: RHS 141D. Appearance: Ovate. Length: 0.1 cm.             Diameter: 0.1 cm. Style: Color: RHS 141D. Length: 0.9 cm.             Diameter: 0.1 cm. Appearance: Long.

-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.

-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: Good tolerance to powdery mildew     (Podosphaera xanthii).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEVP15616’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female parent Male parent Characteristic ‘KLEVP15616’ ‘VC1166’ ‘VC11107’ Flower color Orange-red with Pink with darker eyes Orange-red darker red eyes (RHS 45A) Branching More than 20 10 to 15 stems More than 15 stems stems

‘KLEVP15616’ is most similar to the commercial verbena ‘Flair Red’ (patent status unknown). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEVP15616’ ‘Flair Red’ Flower color Orange-red with darker red eyes Purple Tolerance to Good tolerance Less tolerance than powdery mildew ‘KLEVP15616’ 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant designated ‘KLEVP15616’ as illustrated and described herein. 